The definition of prototype comes from the Greek πρωτότυπος prōtótypos: From the prefix “Protos”, which can be translated as “first” and the suffix “typos”, meaning “model”. In the creation and development of digital products, a prototype is a medium-high fidelity representation that includes interface interaction for user experience testing.
Based on my experience working with the Darien Technology team at the Innovation Lab and the Digital Lab, I can affirm that in the development of digital products, prototypes are a key piece that allow us to move from an idea to creating a Minimum Viable Product. Through Design Thinking and Visual Thinking methodologies, we connect people's needs, turn ideas into images from a scribble on a Post-it to a high-fidelity prototype to solve problems and foster innovation.
The Design Thinking process comprises five fundamental phases: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. These phases are not linear; on the contrary, we must iterate throughout our process to find innovative solutions centered on people's needs. However, few companies or startups reach the phase of generating prototypes and testing them.
Instead of assuming and risking developing a product that might not succeed, we must minimize risks and ensure a value proposition that meets users' needs through a tangible first study model. It is worth noting that Visual Thinking is present during the Design Thinking process.
There are different methods, from low-fidelity wireframes to define the concept, structure, and basic components, to medium-high fidelity static mockups to define the visual design (color, typography, shadows...), and medium-high fidelity prototypes that simulate interface interaction for user experience testing. These tools are applied throughout the innovation process to help us visualize concepts, test hypotheses, and validate.
The two main advantages of investing in a prototype are:
- Ensuring stakeholders understand how the product works to facilitate co-creation.
- Validating the initial hypothesis, corroborating functionalities, conducting user-centered research (UX/UI), analyzing, identifying problems, discarding ideas quickly, and providing new solutions to enable iterative and incremental development in a short time.
For us, the creation of prototypes is so important that we have created a Digital UI/UX Lab called Cafetín Digital, which experiments with prototypes and seeks feedback from real users before moving forward, to modify processes based on results. In this Lab, we provide research services, design wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and UI design systems.
As we can see, a prototype is a key study tool that allows us to validate a hypothesis quickly and cost-effectively by materializing the first deliverable. To innovate, we must include them in our process from the initial stage to the final stage to ground our ideas and generate value.
